Miller Makes History as Bears Show Determination at State
by Coach Kenny Miller
A historic finish, a determined comeback and a gritty performance highlighted the Bertha-Hewitt Bears’ trip to the MSHSL Class A State Cross Country Meet on Saturday, November 7, at Majestic Oaks Golf Course in Ham Lake.
With sunshine, an ideal race temperature of 45 degrees, and large, enthusiastic crowds lining the course, the stage was set for a memorable day. Senior Kendra Miller and freshmen Vance Lockwood and Nolan Rach represented the Bears, adding another chapter to the success of a program established in 2019.
The new state meet venue also presented challenges. Approximately 120 meters into the race, the starting area narrowed sharply into a running lane roughly 20 feet wide, creating a difficult bottleneck for fields of 160 runners. Rain earlier in the week also left soft and muddy footing through portions of the early course, making positioning and balance especially important.
Miller rose to the occasion, closing her senior cross country season with the finest state meet finish in Bertha-Hewitt history. The five-time state qualifier raced to seventh place overall in 18:35.6, breaking her own school record and earning All-State honors.
Against the strongest competition in Class A, Miller delivered a performance worthy of her decorated career. Her record-setting effort secured a state medal and gave the Bears their highest individual finish since the program began. It was a memorable finish to a senior season defined by continued improvement and success...
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